A message from Andy, our chair:
We want you! We want you to have a great time with us, and enjoy some top quality drama, so I, your steamed Chair, am here to tell you not just what’s coming up, but what’s going to be so great about it!
Okay, so let me tell you about the first show, our first OFFICIAL Spotlight Showcase, THE EARLY BIRD.
Usually with KDC, when we look for shows, we think of what would be a fair cast size to encompass our membership as much as possible, so usually we aim for about 8 people in a show at least. Problem with that is that there are an awful lot of amazing plays that don’t get the benefit of being staged, and an awful lot of brilliant actors and directors that never get the opportunity to really fine tune a piece to the last molecule.
So Emma, our Artistic Director, and myself decided to put the word out for a “Spotlight Showcase” – a show specifically for two or three actors to work intensively together. Zoe Thomas-Webb came to us with the brilliant and dark play THE EARLY BIRD and some really cool ideas for the show. This is a really new idea for us, and it’s going to be great to see our two Spotlight Showcase Actors, Thom Petty and Kate Sketchley (both new to KDC Theatre!) in action!
This is our first show up, and I’m personally really excited about it!
Go to , or to our homepage to book tickets.
So after that, we return to one of KDC Theatre’s Strengths with a new writing double bill.
The first time I got involved with KDC was in a piece of New Writing called Madman William, where I was cast as a rather groggy and frustrated writer (which is basically me). Since then, the new writing at KDC has increased in leaps and bounds, with Eddie Coleman, and later yours truly pushing forward ideas like Round Table Readings of new plays, Rehearsed Readings and a fast and loose and fun concept called “Play in a Day”. Out new writing has also extended to an anniversary piece (The Long Run), a collaborative piece (Summers Gone) and most recently, and incredibly well received contribution to the RSC’s Open Stages project, The War Of The Waleses.
So… new writing is a big deal at KDC and something I get totally revved up about. We have two plays;
One is a fantastic piece all in rhyme, by long time member Matthew Partridge, directed by our very own Fiona Thomas called The Player Played. When we read this at one of our reading nights it really tripped off the tongue and is sure to be be a real crowd pleaser.
Back to back with this one we have Stag Nation. A bawdy, booze stinking hangover riddled play, very much about the morning after the night before. Kat Wootton, who directed the brilliant Sister Mary Ignatius last Summer has the reins on this one.
Tickets here
And last, but by no stretch of the imagination, least – Richard III. Shakespeare. Classic Text. Well know play. Female Richard…
Wait, what!? That’s right! A female Richard. Christopher Warren’s adaptation of this legend of a play stemmed from this initial idea, then took root in his brain until it burst forth from his mouth as a fully rounded pitch. The potential discovery of Richards remains is PURELY circumstantial and is in no way a publicity stunt for this show. IN. NO. WAY…
This is our Ensemble piece for the season, made Glorious Summer with new member Thea Beyleveld taking the title role.
Tickets for Richard III are at and KDC website.
But before all that, THIS THURSDAY at the HOOP AND GRAPES it all starts with one of our tried and tested Thirsty Thursday events. These are not simply your bog standard “nights in a pub” – oh no. This is us, as a community, all together, all from different shows, hanging out, talking about what’s coming up, sharing our interest and enthusiasm.
It’s a place where you can see our drunken Stags hanging out with Richard III or one of her cronies, or see the rare sight of a director buying a round.
It’s free, it’s not exclusive to people in shows, and it may well be that “way to know the company” that you were looking for.
Be seeing you! Regards, Marchie